Just went to 11.5 to .056

[Chester Nimitz]

Just got done jamming, in a total different league here.

Lot less string noise, ive always been heavy handed, now im balanced out.

Palm mutes, strumming & harmonics are on a total different level.

I can do everything as before with way better clarity & sustain including 2 hand tapping.

Should have done this long ago.

 

[PeteLaramee]

I'm what you would call a candy ass. I do .009-.054 on a 7 string. I couldn't play 11s to save my life.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Yes you could, you just have to take the time and be patient while your hand strength adjusts. A few weeks. My bass guitar playing started this way. Had two weeks to learn for a tour. Hands were breaking off lol. Three weeks in it was like I had always done it.

 

[Beyond Black]

Nice and heavy. I usually play 11-54 or something like that on my 25.5" scale guitars. What scale length do you have it on?

3 LP's an SG, a 86' Charvel & an Epi 335.

I just ordered 6 more sets,

These strings are Meaty, they Rawk.

I have used GHS for 30 years, and the Nickel Rockers CL 9.5 to .048 for 11 years.

I had to adjust the Floyd springs on my Charvel but other than that everything is Amazing

Even my GF said she could notice a dif when i play.

I see why Angus/AC/DC & SRV used heavy ...

Certain string bends @A-440 can be tough but my callluses & finger strength will increase.

The Charvel & 2 Pauls are E-flat. Originally i bought the heavys just for that but there was such a difference i went whole Hog.

You don't have a girlfriend.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

At least i don't pay for sex with your Mom like you do ...

 

[sg guy]

-I don't know how you guys do it, I tried to use that barbed wire you dudes call strings, it just doesn't feel or sound good to me, and I have a 24 fret SG tuned to C# with 9's...

 

[Beyond Black]

At least i don't pay for sex with your Mom like you do ...

At least I get the family discount.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

At least i don't pay for sex with your Mom like you do ...

At least I get the family discount.

Dude, if that's your mom in that picture, I want in on the action

 

[Beyond Black]

At least i don't pay for sex with your Mom like you do ...

At least I get the family discount.

Dude, if that's your mom in that picture, I want in on the action

Get in line, pal...I mean that literally, there's an actual line.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

^^^

 

[Jayy]

Hell, I'm still using 9-40 Fender nickel strings tuned to standard or 1/2 step down. I don't see how you guys do those 11's or heavier.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

I've went the opposite myself, I've always used 11-56 and have went down to 10-52. I'm actually happier with my sound. The low end was too rounded the other way.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

^^^
I think I would notice what your talking about if I weren't using a Painkiller in the bridge of this guitar with 11-56s. Pretty sure you could play a 70 on the low side with this pickup and still get a nice sharp attack on the low notes.

 

[Rayneman]

Do you guys that use these larger string gauges play in standard tuning? If so, that's pretty amazing. If I get 10s on a strat type guitar it gets a little tough for me to execute wide bends, lol.

I received a guitar recently with 11s, but it was setup in D. It felt really nice, but it is a multi-scale instrument, so maybe that had something to do with it.

In any event, my bands play 1/2 step down, so my preferred string is 9.5s...they are perfect for me at that tuning.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

^^^
Playing in Drop C here.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

I'm drop d half step down

 

[Chester Nimitz]

String bending is really not all that different for me.

But the increase in tone & sustain is off the hook.

 

[Rock Bodom]

I don't doubt anyone's actual playing experiences, if you are getting better tonez by switching to the heavier stuff and it works for you, that's totally cool.

I just can't personally hear the huge difference...the tone from my rig is already pretty thick with plenty of sustain, so maybe I'd hear it with a different set-up. I'm a mindless shred head stuck in the 80's...my playing consists of an hour or two of "wheedely wee" most nights, so I need them light gauge strings! I see no point in my strings fighting me back, I know how to play, they need to just follow my lead and bend easily when I tell them to.

 

[jcj]

Shit, I tried playing one of Shark Diver's Suhrs many years ago that had 13s in standard tuning...I couldn't even bend those fuckers without pain.

I have tendinitis, and some arthritis, so I stick with 9-42 on my personal guitars; I like 10-52, but definitely don't find it necessary. I play in standard tuning 95% of the time, on 25.5" guitars.

You guys playing 13s must have the hands of a brick layer!!!

 

[MetalHeadMike]

^^^
Yep. I can't imagine 13-56 in standard tuning but in drop turnings its pretty slick. I'll admit that it is a work out for me.